Major Investment in Bedford Borough Schools
Bedford Borough Council has provided funding of circa.£26 million towards the improvement and maintenance of schools in the borough within the 2012/13 financial year.
Works at 31 schools were funded last year, to a value of £25,815,668. Included in the programme were the new school at Great Denham and a major 10 class extension at Livingstone Lower School. Equally important were works to replace and upgrade boilers, roofs and windows as a number of schools.
Last year, schools in Bedford Borough were praised after the Local Authority area was recognised by Ofsted as offering one of the best opportunities in the country for children to attend a good or outstanding primary school. Schools in Bedford Borough were ranked as 11th out of 150 local authorities across the country and number one in the Easter region, with 87% of children attending a good or outstanding lower or primary school.
The latest Ofsted inspections have graded nine of ten local schools inspected this academic year as good or outstanding.
Lib Dem Cllr Henry Vann, Portfolio Holder for Education at Bedford Borough Council added: "Pupil must be able to work in an environment which enables them to excel to great heights in their educational achievements. The Borough's commitment to education is evident in our substantial investment in the maintenance of our schools."